Five years is obviously a long time in football. But it’s easy to forget quite how long until you cast your eyes over the team Gareth Southgate sent out before England’s thrilling friendly defeat to France in June 2017.
Only six members of that 23-man squad are still part of the Three Lions set-up today. Jude Bellingham, who looks certain to start when England take on France for the first time in half-a-decade during the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, was still a couple of weeks out from his 15th birthday when Tom Heaton, Phil Jones, Dele Alli and co found themselves on the wrong end of a 3-2 defeat in Paris.
But who else started that day? And what has become of them since?
Who started for England the last time Gareth Southgate’s side met France?
Tom Heaton
Making his third and final England appearance in the French capital, Heaton certainly didn’t have lady luck on his side in the City of Lights. Two fine reflex saves were followed up ruthlessly by Samuel Umitit and Djibril Sidibe as England’s defence parted like the proverbial red sea.
Heaton, now 36 and a back-up at Manchester United these days, would narrowly miss out on a seat on the plane to Russia 12 months later.
Kieran Trippier
One of only three players in this starting XI planning to meet Kylian Mbappe and co again in Qatar, Trippier remains a firm favourite of Southgate’s; his versatility and set-piece threat making the Newcastle United full-back a hugely important member of the squad five years on.
Phil Jones
At 30, Jones really should be in the prime of his career right now. Instead, he’s little more than an injury-hit afterthought at Old Trafford these days. Since the beginning of 2019/20, Jones has played just six Premier League games.
Gary Cahill
One of the most underrated defenders of the modern era; if there was a trophy Cahill did not win at club level, then it probably wasn’t worth winning. The former Chelsea, Aston Villa and Bolton stopper retired last month with two Premier League titles, two FA Cups and a Champions League winners’ medal headlining his personal collection of silverware.
John Stones
Now capped over 60 times by his country, Stones has played almost every minute of England’s 2022 World Cup campaign thus far. Southgate will need the Manchester City centre-back at his most focused and uncompromising with France’s all-time record goalscorer, the evergreen Olivier Giroud, to come this weekend.
Ryan Bertrand
A genuinely top-class left-back during his peak years at Southampton, the now-33-year-old Bertrand has seen a 2021 move to Leicester City ruined by long-term injury problems. He remains sidelined after undergoing knee surgery in pre-season.
At least Bertrand can always say that he set up a goal for his country at the Parc des Princes. It was he who assisted Harry Kane’s early opener in that 3-2 defeat.
Eric Dier
Starting as a deep-lying midfielder that day five years ago, Dier is a centre-half by trade these days. The 28-year-old Tottenham Hotspur stalwart has appeared off the bench twice during England’s storming run to the last eight in Qatar.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Another, like Jones, who’s best years have been ruined by a seemingly never-ending series of fitness issues. Oxlade-Chamberlain, while still relatively young at 29, has not featured for his country since 2019.
The former Arsenal ace’s Liverpool contract expires next summer.
Dele Alli
If you’d told us back in 2017 that Alli would find himself stuck out on loan at Besiktas five years down the line, well let’s just say we’d be wondering what on earth went wrong to one of the most naturally talented English footballers of his generation.
Alli is hardly thriving in Turkey either. He’s scored once in seven Super Lig games amid reports of an early return to parent club Everton.
Raheem Sterling
One of Southgate’s most trusted lieutenants, Sterling missed Sunday’s 3-0 triumph over Senegal after being forced to fly home for family reasons. The Three Lions boss will be hoping the Chelsea forward can return in time for the quarter-final. Sterling, after all, has firmly established himself as a reliable goalscorer in tournament football.
Harry Kane
Contributing four goals and assists to the England cause in Qatar; it’s remarkable that Kane’s role in Southgate’s side continues to be questioned by those who seem incapable of appreciating his outstanding link-play and masterful movement.
Kane, Golden Boot winner in the 2018 World Cup, got off the mark for 2022 against Senegal last time out.
On the bench;
Kyle Walker, Jack Butland, Aaron Cresswell, Ben Gibson, Chris Smalling, Jake Livermore, Jermain Defoe, Adam Lallana, Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard, Fraser Forster, and Joe Hart.
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